So...fire Donny Nelson?

[Dirk's Knee]

Now, maybe this is really on Cuban and he of course can spend his money the way he pleases. But since the title it really appears the Mavs FO has made a a bunch of bad moves: letting TC walk, Lamar Odom, not trading Marion, and Rajon Rondo. And that doesn't even begin to look at the poor draft selections. Is it time to bring in a new GM? Given Dirk's expected further decline, we're really going to need someone who's more skilled in scouting and building teams from scratch. Nelson probably isn't the best choice there. Your thoughts?

[bilease]

I wouldnt blame Donnie Nelson for all of that, who could've expected the Rondo trade to work out that bad? Something had to be done, we werent going anywhere with Nelson/Wright. Cant blame them for trying. Similiar story with Odom... It was a risk, but totally unexpected to be such a huge failure.

And for all I know, it was Cuban who insisted on not drafting Giannis Antetokounmpo eventhough Nelson wanted it. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ba...194548629.html

Soo.... Fire Mark Cuban? Dont overreact just because a trade or two didnt work out. And Im not going into the 2011 off season discussion again. Its history

[MFFL]

Maybe not fire Donnie but the team does need to restructure the front office and put more emphasis on the draft.

[Dirk's Knee]

I know, don't want to flog a dead horse too much. But Odom and Rondo...I mean, that's 2 huge failures within 4 years. If those were both Nelson's ideas and I were him, I'd definitely not feel very much job security...

[j0Shi]

I think the Mavs must take a hard look into the case of Rondo and what evaluations went wrong in the process.

It's safe to say that the trade killed our season. FO likes to call themselves opportunistic, but this move seemed more desperate in hindsight.

[j0Shi]

I think the Mavs must take a hard look into the case of Rondo and what evaluations went wrong in the process.

It's safe to say that the trade killed our season. FO likes to call themselves opportunistic, but this move seemed more desperate in hindsight.

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

I say start the rebuilding with young players and good draft choices. kind of like the spurs have done. spurs are good year after year because they dont give up on players. mavs are quick to sign a declining vet or land that big freeagent. IMHO

[rimrocker]

Donnie did a wonderful job putting a talented support group around Dirk this season.
That strategy worked when Dirk was 32 but now the strategy has to change.

I'm interested to see how he adapts to a new situation.

Donnie will be fine once we get another star or 2 to build around. We as fans just need to be patient.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

I think the Mavs must take a hard look into the case of Rondo and what evaluations went wrong in the process.

It's safe to say that the trade killed our season. FO likes to call themselves opportunistic, but this move seemed more desperate in hindsight.

We made that trade a week after we got torched by Curry/Thompson so I'm sure the lack of backcourt defense had a lot to do with it.

I say start Aminu to defend Harden one-on-one and let Ellis run the show on offense....at this point we have nothing to lose.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

I wouldn't cut off all of the major heads just yet...however....

Get a draft GM like Rosas was supposed to be and all new assistant coaches. Putting pressure on the top jobs is a smart way to go about it.

[sefant77]

Lakers were hiding that Odom had a drug problem and shipped him out before it went public, basically stealing a 1st and a TE...shameless

Donnie wanted to draft Giannis but Cuban made a major fuck up

Rondo was a solid gamble and the price wasnt high - no one thought Rondo is THAT much of an idiot.

[Murphy3]

Why was it a solid gamble? The guy had played like Sh!t since 2012.

[sefant77]

Because Nelson and Wright couldnt guard a chair and Wright is going to be an UFA

[j0Shi]

I don't agree Rondo is something we had to try though, but I know that people rightfully have vastly different opinions about this.

[Igor1988]

We replaced guy who can't guard (JN) for guy who can't attack (RR).
Epicness.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Dirk's Knee

Is it time to bring in a new GM?

New GM? Dallas hasn't had a GM since Cuban took over. Dallas did try fill the position once and he quit after, what, a month?

[MFFL]

Originally Posted by Igor1988

We replaced guy who can't guard (JN) for guy who can't attack (RR).
Epicness.

And paid a first rounder for the ride

Man I was wrong about rondo. I thought it was a small price for a legit upgrade but I was completely wrong

[rimrocker]

Nelson, Barea, Felton and Harris are all backup PGs but we are in a conference with Curry, Paul, Westbrook, Lillard, Parker, Conley, Bledsoe. Making a move for a 4 time allstar with a ring in his prime for merely Wright, Crowder, Nelson and pick was a no brainer. Especially when you consider we had the upper hand on resigning him.

If you are going to solely blame him for the Rondo deal you need to give him full credit for acquiring Kidd, Haywood, Butler, Stevenson, Chandler, Marion, Barea, Brewer, Mihinmi, Peja, Beaubois, Jones and Cardinal.

[Thebo]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

We made that trade a week after we got torched by Curry/Thompson so I'm sure the lack of backcourt defense had a lot to do with it.

I say start Aminu to defend Harden one-on-one and let Ellis run the show on offense....at this point we have nothing to lose.

I have always wondered why Aminu hasn't been defending guard positions? I guess he'd handle Thompson easily but would Harden's driving abilities and quickness really be too difficult for Aminu? I hope RC tries it at least once during the series. He's easily Dallas' best defender and should be used as one.

Oh yeah, I don't blame Nelson for Rondo saga at all. If you want to lay any blame on him, then only that he should've protected the pick better. It's either to give 1st pick to Boston next season without finishing bottom 4 or be able to compete by 2021.

[Dirk's Knee]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Nelson, Barea, Felton and Harris are all backup PGs but we are in a conference with Curry, Paul, Westbrook, Lillard, Parker, Conley, Bledsoe. Making a move for a 4 time allstar with a ring in his prime for merely Wright, Crowder, Nelson and pick was a no brainer. Especially when you consider we had the upper hand on resigning him.

If you are going to solely blame him for the Rondo deal you need to give him full credit for acquiring Kidd, Haywood, Butler, Stevenson, Chandler, Marion, Barea, Brewer, Mihinmi, Peja, Beaubois, Jones and Cardinal.

Not sure what your saying. Past history doesn't guarantee future performance. It was awesome that we won a title and we did get 50 wins which is still quite an accomplishment. However, we stumbled hard to that goal and now have no future starting PG in an offseason where there are very few solid starting FA PG options available. Honestly no way to get better than Harris other than giving up another starter and then we get back to the endless cycle of roster reconstruction and with Dirk at 37 that just doesn't make sense anymore.

I'm speaking specifically towards 2 huge trade failures within 4 years with Dirk on the decline. My opinion is a change in GM (and in ownership perspective) is necessary now with a more importance placed on the draft, and a long term view of a forthcoming rebuild.

[Dirk's Knee]

And I almost forgot another (albeit smaller) failure since 2011, Fisher...

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by MFFL

Maybe not fire Donnie but the team does need to restructure the front office and put more emphasis on the draft.

Agreed. Donnie is an asset in a lot of ways, but I continue to think they need to shift things around on the draft front. That's why I was initially excited about the Rosas hire, before it flamed out.

Originally Posted by j0Shi

I think the Mavs must take a hard look into the case of Rondo and what evaluations went wrong in the process.

It's safe to say that the trade killed our season. FO likes to call themselves opportunistic, but this move seemed more desperate in hindsight.

In a sense, they were "desperate"--desperate to improve their backcourt defense, as it was clear that this team wasn't competing with the Golden States of the league as constructed.

It didn't work, but calculated risks sometimes don't.

[EricaLubarsky]

In my mind it's time to move on from Donnie or to tell him that he needs to accept help. A one-man F.O. doesn't work anymore and between Fisher, Odom, and Rondo, he's made some unilateral, risky moves without speaking with coach. We need better leadership that starts with Cuban and goes down to the trainers. They all need to cooperate and work together at getting and staying on the same page. It's awesome that he can swing a blockbuster deal like Rondo's for relatively cheap using his contacts and friendship with Ainge, but when it's a unilateral move that hasn't been vetted/approved by the coach, then there is a problem.

Pluses/minuses
+ knows all the other GMs well and has good relationships with them
+Got us Dirk
+???

-Does not play well with others, including coach Rick (Rosas, etc.)
-unclear job description/lots of meddling by Cuban (also an issue for Rosas?)
-lots of bad deals recently (Rondo, Odom, etc.)
-His current strategy since 2005 (and probably earlier) is to throw away draft picks and young guys or to trade them for aging vets-- many of whom are over their prime. I have no problem with win-now, but too many concessions have been made to throw away young guys for old guys.

[Melonhead]

I was so excited when Rosas came on because that meant we were aware of our issues (sucking at draft), and were looking to improve. Cuban/Donnie screwed that. I think Donnie should go for the sole reason I havent seen him evaluate talent worth a flip in the draft. There are guys to be had with our later picks, so I dont want to hear about our position.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

he's made some unilateral, risky moves without speaking with coach.

Is this an assumption, or do you know something I don't?

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Is this an assumption, or do you know something I don't?

It was reported by McMahon and hinted at by BG that Rick wasn't particularly happy to hear about the trade at first, which implies that he either didn't get a say or didn't get the final word. I guess what I said was overblown-- I doubt Rick was completely in the dark, but as far as I'm concerned, if you have a coach like Rick, you support his vision by getting guys he wants and having him sign off on all blockbusters.

[conjurer]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

It was reported by McMahon and hinted at by BG that Rick wasn't particularly happy to hear about the trade at first, which implies that he either didn't get a say or didn't get the final word. I guess what I said was overblown-- I doubt Rick was completely in the dark, but as far as I'm concerned, if you have a coach like Rick, you support his vision by getting guys he wants and having him sign off on all blockbusters.

If this is true, than Donnie has to go; although, I don't blame him that Rondo didn't work out. Can't have a GM who isn't in sync with the senior coaching staff.

[mac222b]

Of course Rick wasn't int he dark. But it's likely he was overruled. Wouldn't be surprised if he's coaching OkC next season

[Thebo]

Originally Posted by mac222b

Of course Rick wasn't int he dark. But it's likely he was overruled. Wouldn't be surprised if he's coaching OkC next season

If only OKC would have 1st round draft picks to trade for him...

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by Thebo

If only OKC would have 1st round draft picks to trade for him...

But they don't value picks! Don't want 'em

[Dirk's Knee]

Originally Posted by mac222b

Of course Rick wasn't int he dark. But it's likely he was overruled. Wouldn't be surprised if he's coaching OkC next season

Kevin Ollie will be the next OKC coach unless Thibs is looking for a job.

[Kante]

Originally Posted by Dirk's Knee

Kevin Ollie will be the next OKC coach unless Thibs is looking for a job.

Didn't Ollie already rejected the job?

[Kidd Karma]

Originally Posted by Kante

Didn't Ollie already rejected the job?

Ha, next thing you know, he's holding a OKC hat. Without any definitive contract in hand....they all deny.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Dirk's Knee

Not sure what your saying. Past history doesn't guarantee future performance. It was awesome that we won a title and we did get 50 wins which is still quite an accomplishment. However, we stumbled hard to that goal and now have no future starting PG in an offseason where there are very few solid starting FA PG options available. Honestly no way to get better than Harris other than giving up another starter and then we get back to the endless cycle of roster reconstruction and with Dirk at 37 that just doesn't make sense anymore.

I'm speaking specifically towards 2 huge trade failures within 4 years with Dirk on the decline. My opinion is a change in GM (and in ownership perspective) is necessary now with a more importance placed on the draft, and a long term view of a forthcoming rebuild.

It almost sounds like people blame Donnie for our successes.
People want consistent 50 win seasons but expect us to always have trade assets or hit big with late 1st round draft picks.
Our consistent success of plus .500 wins has put us in a position to make desperate and risky trades so what do you do, bitch about Donnie putting us in that situation or pat him on the back for it?

Can't have it both ways people...that's why I've been saying the last few weeks that we need to either $H!T or get off the pot now.

Donnie's done a wonderful job during the Dirk era but its time to move on and see what he can do without a star to build around. There is no sense beating a dying horse.

[hayth.james.g]

I feel like firing myself as GM-Fan.

[DGM]

[QUOTE=Dirk's Knee;1380972]I know, don't want to flog a dead horse too much. But Odom and Rondo...I mean, that's 2 huge failures within 4 years. If those were both Nelson's ideas and I were him, I'd definitely not feel very much job security...[/QUO
He could have traded Wright for Thomas and kept jae.

[rabbitproof]

We can hem-haw about this but let's look at the facts. It's been four years since the chip and we have three (and counting hopefully) playoff wins.

Compared to other champions, our four-years later regular season may be slightly below average but our playoff record must be one of the worst. A quick look shows Miami post-2006 is comparable. They had one really bad year but the others made the playoffs otherwise but were quick first round outs. 2013 Miami may make this a threesome but still went back to the Finals in 2014 so they're probably already above the 2006 Mavs in terms of hangover.

Post MJ 1998 Chicago is really the worst but that's a total nuke situation (losing the GOAT player, GOAT coach and another HOFer). Mavs and 2006 Heat are probably the worst four years after champion teams.